Now, state officials say they're going to study the feasibility of merging public transportation in Luzerne County with mass transit in Lackawanna County. That would include COLTS buses and even the operations at the Wilkes-Barre /Scranton International Airport.

PennDOT says a previous study in 2010 showed that a regional transportation authority could save $1.7 million a year.

Transportation officials say a merger might make it easier to have a passenger rail line return from New York and New Jersey into Scranton.

"I think it's a good idea because it's going to help a lot of people with their commute to work and I think it'll be cheaper and help people see their families more," said Harmony Weber of Wilkes-Barre.

Some people in Wilkes-Barre think more bus and rail service to bigger cities could bring in trouble.

But the owner of Oz's Pizza near the intermodal center says she needs all the business she can get in the summer when college students are away.

"Nice to have more traffic, more people, more shopping. It would keep downtown more alive," said Filiz Bringham.

Earlier this month, we told you about PennDOT's other study of adding two interchanges on Interstate81 to turn the Pennsylvania Turnpike into a beltway around Scranton. That idea and this public transit merger are both proposals and years away from reality.

SOunds like a good idea-IF the politicians keep their hands out of it.Hire someone competent to run it-not some relative of whoever.They should never had given up the sreet cars in NEPA. The Laureline could have helped witg transportation.SEPTA seems to operate trolleys buses and trains ok.